commit

[ kuh-mit ]

verb (used with object)

, com·mit·ted, com·mit·ting.

1. to do; perform; perpetrate:

   to commit murder; to commit an error.

   Synonyms: execute, effect

2. to pledge (oneself ) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.):

   Asked if he was a candidate, he refused to commit himself.

3. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge:

   to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.

4. to consign for preservation:

   to commit ideas to writing; to commit a poem to memory.

5. to give in trust or charge, especially for safekeeping; consign; commend: Every summer we were committed to babysitters and camp counselors.

   to commit one's soul to God;

   Every summer we were committed to babysitters and camp counselors.

6. to consign to custody:

   to commit a delinquent to a juvenile detention center.

7. to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority:

   He was committed by court order on the recommendation of two psychiatrists.

8. to deliver for treatment, disposal, etc.; relegate:

   to commit a manuscript to the flames.

9. to send into a battle:

   The commander has committed all his troops to the front lines.

10. Parliamentary Procedure. to refer (a bill or the like) to a committee for consideration.

verb (used without object)

, com·mit·ted, com·mit·ting.

1. to bind or obligate oneself, as by pledge or assurance; devote or engage oneself to a person or thing: If he hasn’t committed after eight years, he’s never going to marry you.

   She is an athlete who commits to the highest standards.

   If he hasn’t committed after eight years, he’s never going to marry you.

commit

/ kəˈmɪt /

verb

1. to hand over, as for safekeeping; charge; entrust

   to commit a child to the care of its aunt

2. commit to memory
   to learn by heart; memorize
3. to confine officially or take into custody

   to commit someone to prison

4. usually passive to pledge or align (oneself), as to a particular cause, action, or attitude

   a committed radical

5. to order (forces) into action
6. to perform (a crime, error, etc); do; perpetrate
7. to surrender, esp for destruction

   she committed the letter to the fire

8. to refer (a bill, etc) to a committee of a legislature

Derived Forms

• comˈmitter, noun
• comˈmittable, adjective

Other Words From

• com·mit·ta·ble adjective
• com·mit·ter noun
• non·com·mit·ted adjective
• pre·com·mit verb (used with object) precommitted precommitting
• un·com·mit verb uncommitted uncommitting

Word History and Origins

Origin of commit¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English committen, from Anglo-French committer or directly from Latin committere, equivalent to com- “with, together, completely” + mittere “to send, give over”; com-

Word History and Origins

Origin of commit¹

C14: from Latin committere to join, from com- together + mittere to put, send

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. com·mit su·i·cide, to intentionally end one’s own life.

Example Sentences

Perhaps more than an actor raised outside of Belfast, Petticrew was able to understand on a visceral level what compelled Dolours to commit acts of terrorism.

From Los Angeles Times

Amnesty said the weapons could be used to commit or facilitate serious rights violations, adding that the French government must ensure the companies "immediately stop the supply of this system to the UAE".

From BBC

Led by Jaren Jackson Jr., the one member of the Grizzlies’ big three that was healthy, Memphis outscored the Lakers 70-53 in the second and third quarters as the Lakers did little but half-heartedly swipe at the ball and commit lazy fouls.

From Los Angeles Times

One call was made in October 2022 to a public high school in Washington, in which he threatened to commit a mass shooting and claimed to have planted bombs throughout the school, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

When he placed a swatting call at a targeted location, Filion would call emergency responders and provide them with false information about having placing dangerous explosives, telling authorities that he and others had firearms and explosives, and that he or other individuals had committed or intended to imminently commit violent crimes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allocate
• charge
• engage
• give
• hold
• invest
• offer
• promise
• send